Transport valve



Jan. 20, 1931. H. T. MELLING 3 TRANSPORT VALVE Filed Dec. 12, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 I BY g ATTORNEY r Jan. 20, 1931. H MELLlNG 1,789,340

TRANSPORT VALVE Filed Dec. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A :47 1 32 0 63 i 4 $2- 6 I 3y I' I 35 H ii 32 49 INVENITIOR Ml! I L K flab? am my, 41 k b'i 65 39 B 36 59 40 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 20, 1931 a I ,v i v UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE nnnnnn'r TOM Mame, or nnwcyonn, Y.- c I i 'rmsronr VALVE I Application flled'necember 12, 1928 Serial iio'."32 ,501.'

Y My present invention relates generally to The essence of my improved type of valve valves, and has particular reference to an imlies in providing means whereby all frictionproved transport valve designed primarily a orsliding contactis avoidedyand whereby for pulverized material such as powdered a valve proper is raised or lowered with re- 5 coal. I 'pect to a' complementary valveseat To This application covers certain improveachievean efficient cooperation between the mentsin the type of valve disclosed in my valve and any selected valve seat, I have procopending application filed June 11,-=1927,unvided a valve construction'wherein a valve 1 der Serial No. 198,030, which matured into disc is pivotally associated with a valve stem a patent on November 4, 1930, under N0. so that the valve disc if free to adjust itself. 1,780,562. to the valve seat presented thereto. Such Although certain phases of my invention pivotal association'was shown in my cop'endare not limited to any specific application, I ing applicationa'nd has been retained in my have illustrated the same, both in-my 'p'represent device. v vious application and herein, as applied to One of the features ofmy present device a trans ort'valve havinga single inlet openlies in providing means for-efficiently lubri ing an a pair of outlet openings, suchvalve cating the articulation between the valve disc being designed for employment in a plant and thejvalve stem; where pulverized coal is transmitted from A general object of my present invention a main source into the valve through the is to provide eflicient and simple means for 70 inlet opening and is-then selectively directproviding lubricating material such as grease ed into one or anotherbin' through one or to all the' essential arts 'within the valve, the other outlet opening. i such supply being e ected from the exterior A general object of my improved transof the valvebody. I port valve, as set forth more generally in Another general object of my present in- 75 my copending application, is to provide a vention is to improve the smooth-operation device which obviates most, if not all, of the of the valve to facilitate its initial manudisadvantages heretofore incident to the emfacture, its assembly and its repair, and in ployment of valves wherein a mutual sliding general, to improve the reliability of its op- 1s involved between a valve proper and the erations p I walls of the valve body. Briefly, my im- Thus, features of m present invention lie proved valve comprises a valve body having in providing a smoot er unobstructed path a trunnion rotatably mounted'therein, a rafor the powdered coal, a means for inexpendially reciprocable valve in the body and sively constructing the valve initially, a carriedby the trunnion, means for rotating means for facilitating access toint-erior parts the trunnion, and means for reciprocating for purposes of inspection or repair, and a the'va'lve. a means for locking a trunnion-in any of sev- One of the problems which my improved eral predetermined positions. construction presents is' the proper lubrica- I achieve the foregoing objects and such 4 tion of the mechanism for rotating the trunother objects as may hereinafter appear or nion and for reciprocating the valve, and be pointed out in the manner illustratively the simultaneous sealing of the operating exemplified in the accompanying drawings mechanism and the moving parts of the dein which vice from the fine powdered material, such Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my 45 as coal dust, passing through the valve. valve with parts broken away and other It is a general object of my present invenparts in section; tion to provide improved means for effecting Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken such lubrication and such sealing of the substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1; mechanism from the undesired effect of the Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken 50 powdered coal. substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2;

view taken substantially along the line 44 Figure 4 is a fra entary cross-sectional of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a view s milar to a portion of Fi ure 2, showing a modification.

e valve body consists of a cylindrical wall and a pair of o posite substantially circular side walls. I present invention, the cylindrical wall is composed of two complementary arcuate sections 10 and 11 provided with opposed exterior flanges 12 and 13 whereby these sections may be separably attached to each other by studs or bolts 14, or by other suitable means exterior of the valve body.

In the illustrated embodiment, I have shown an inlet opening 15 formed upon the section 10 and I have shown two outlet openings 16 and 17 formed upon the section 11. Each of the inlet and outlet openings is provided with a suitable flange to permit attachment thereof to the outside piping. The inlet opening 15 has been shown substantially opposite the outlet .opening16, and the outlet openings 16 and 17 have been shown at a proximate] 45 to each other, but it will be obvious t at certain phases of my, in-

vention are not limitedto such a specific arrangement. v

In accordance with my invention, I provide an additional opening 18 in thecylindrical wall, and Ihave shown this opening provided in the section 10 and between the openings 15'and 17. The purpose of the opening. 18 will be presently described, but I will point out at this time thatit is not provided with any attachin flangeand is not designed to be associate with any external pipe. A removable cover plate 19 is suitably associated with the opening 18, preferably by means of studs 20, or the like. In each of the inletand outlet openings I have provided a valve seat which is preferably constructed as a separate element and then associated with theparticular opening for which it is intended. The seats 21 and c 22 of Figure 2, associated respectively with the openin s 15 and 16, illustrate the general nature of t ese valve seats. I will point out atthis time that the sectional construction of the cylindrical wall facilitates access to the inner ends of the openings 15 and 16 for pur- 4 poses of initially applying the valve seats 21 and 22 or for subsequently gaining access to such valve seats for purposes of inspection or repair. 7 q

The cylindrical wall of the valve body is sandwiched between the two opposed side walls 23 and'24, which are separably assembled with the cylindrical wall sections by means of studs 25 or the like.

Journaled between the walls 23 and 24, and substantially along the axis of the cylindrical wall of the valve body, is a trunnion or spindle whose opposite ends both extend through 11 accordance with my The midportion of the trunnion is hollow and of substantially cylindrical outer contourfor a pur ose presently to be described. Within t is-hollow midportion is mounted certain mechanism for controlling the reciprocation of the valve proper.

More specifically, upon reference to Figures2 and 3, I will oint out that the mi portion 30 is flattene off at one side thereof to provide a suitable seat for an attaching flange 31 carried by a radial sleeve. 32. This construction constitutes an improvement over the rectangular construction illustrated in my previous ap lication, for various reasons.

For example, t e manufacture of the trunnion and its subsequent assembly with the radial sleeve'32 is greatly facilitated. The mere application of studs33. or the like will secure the radial sleeve 32 in its proper position and will at the same time seal the hollow midportion 30 of the trunnion.

Non-rotatably but slidably mounted for reciprocable movement within the sleeve 32 is the valve which is composedof the valve stem'34 and the separate valve disc 35. The valve stem 34 is splined, as by a key 36, to the interior of the sleeve 32. The valve stem 34 is also provided with the internally threaded bore 37 i and the enlarged head 38. The outer surface 39 of the head 38 is convex.

.The valve disc encircles the enlarged head 38 and presents a non-conforming rear surface to the convex forward surface 39. In the illustrated embodiment, this rear surface 40 is shown as a plane surface. The valve disc 35 is held in association with the valve stem 34 by means of the nut 41 threaded to the disc 35 and adapted to bear against the rear marginal edge of the enlarged head 38. The valve disc35 is further provided with a replaceable ring or member 42 serving as the annular portion of the disc which cooperates directlylwiththe valve seats.

The trunnion end 27 is longitudinally hollowed, and the mechanism for controlling the reciprocation of the valve includes the manually controllable hand-wheel 43 mounted upon the exterior end of a shaft 44 extendin through the hollowed trunnion end 27 an carrying a beveled gear 45 at its inner end within the hollow midportion 30. The gear 45 meshes with a beveled gear 46 keyed to a shaft member 47 which extends downwardly into the sleeve 32. A nut 48, cooperating with a collar 49, servesto keep the gear 46 in roper position upon the member47. The ower end of the member 47 is exteriorly threaded as at 50 for threaded cooperation the'lever 51 and enga e'within anyseleoted bore of the lugs 53. elugs 53 are so positioned with respect to the various openings in the cylindricalwall that when the lever 51 is locked in association with any selected lug 53, the sleeve 32 and the valve carried there: by, willbe positloned accurately above a particular o ening in the cylindrical wall. Thus, in igures 1 and 2, the lever 51is shown in locked association with one of the lugs 53, and it will be noted that the valve is-thus accurately ositioned andretained above the outlet open1ng'16. f

With the lever 51 thus positioned, passage is' afforded for the coal through thevalvebody from the inletopening 15 to the outlet opening 17 L This passage is an annular passage bounded on the outside by the inner c indrical surface of thecylindr'ical wall of v t e body, and bounded on the inside by the cylindrical outer surface of the hollow midportion 30. It is to benoted that there are no substantial constrictions to this'annular passage, and there are no angles or projecting port-ions upon which the powdered coal may I is to permit access to the valve for purposes accumulate .or may be obstructed. This constitutes an added advantage of the cylindrical structural nature" of the midportion 30 previously referred to.

If it is desired to open the outlet 16 and seal the outlet 17 ,the valve is first lifted from the seat 22, this being accom lished by rotat: ing the hand-wheel 43. After the valve is entirely clear of the valve seat22, the lever 51 isdisassociated from its present lug, 53 and is swung to the left (in Figure l) to the adjacent lug 53 to which it is then looked. During this movement, no objectionable sliding movement has taken place between any of the parts of the valve. By then turning the hand-wheel 43in the opposite direction, the" valve will be brought downupon the valve seat in the opening 17 As the valve is brought down, it will adjust itself to an accurate cooperating-fit with such valve seat, this adjustment being ossible by the pivotal association of the va ve disc 35 with the valve stem 34. Again, no objectionable sliding has occurred, whereas the opening 17 "will-have been efficiently and satisfactorilysealed.

The purpose of the additional opening 18 of inspection. or repair without disassem ling theentire device. Under ordinary conch-- tions. the. removable cover 19 has an inner tion of thewheel 43 will thereupon advance the valve outwardly along ,the aln's of the opening 18. One of the features of my 'iiivention lies in providing the-opening 18 of a diameter sufliciently large topermit the entirevalve to be forced outwardly through the opening 18. 5 When this has been accompli'shed, the entire valve may be disassembled or repaired with great ease and thereafter replaced in asimilarl efiicient manner.

I shallnow descri for lubricatingthe working parts and for sealing such parts powdered material;

I have shown a longitudinal bore'56 extending through the trunnion end 26 from the exposed exterior end thereof to the interior of the hollow 'midportiori 30'. A removtlie improved means,

from the action of the:

ableplug 57 or a high ressure grease connection fitting normal y keeps this bore closed. I have also shown a longitudinalv bore 58 extending through the member 47 from the interior 'ofthe midportion 30 to the lower endof theinternally threaded bore 37 of the valve stem 34. I have also shown a pair of bores 59 extending from the lower end of the bore 37 to the surface 39, i, e., to the loo space between suchsurfaceand the rear sur-' face'40. v a

If grease is forced through the bore 56, it will not only fill the interior of the midportion 30, thereby lubricating all necessary parts, but it will also find its way through the ore 58 and the bores 59 to the space between I the surfaces 39 and 40, from which'space it will'work its way outwardlycinto the clearance space between the nut 41 and the valve stem 34. These spaces are-advantageously kept clear of powdered materialand filled with grease, for reasons which will be obvious. Any grease working its way out-. wardly through the cracks between the v several parts will serve to seal the interior mechanism described fromfth e objectionable action of the powdered material.

My improved lubrication system further includes a groove60 providedbetween the shaft 44 and the inner wall of the hollow trunnion end 27, and a "set of grooves 61 ex tendingfbeneath the gear 46 from the interj ior of the midportion30 down into the upper portion of the sleeve, 32. Further, a feed' bore or bores 62 is advantageouslyassociated with each-side wall of the valve to permit lubricating material to be forced onto the outer surfaces of the trunnion ends.

Inf Fig'ure5, I have shown a modification wherein a rearwardly extendin skirt is pro vided uponthe valve disc 35. ore S PGCIfi cally, I have shown a skirt 63 integrally,

formed upon the nut 41. The skirt 63 ex,- tends rearwardly and encircles the sleeve 32. Between the latter and the skirt 63 is a resilient annular element 64, such as an ordinary piston ring. Such ring rovides sufiicient clearance; or urposes o enabhng the valve to adjust itsel as previously described, and at the same time it efficiently seals the space between the skirt 63 and the sleeve '32.

In this modified form, .I provide additional grooves 65 extending from the .lower portion of the bore 37 into the space Just referred to, sot-hat lubricating. material passing downwardly through" the bore 58 will find its way laterally into the space between the valve stem and the skirt 63. This construction has proven highly satisfactory from the standpoint of enhancing the seal between .the undesirable powdered material and the working parts of the device. I v I In certain cases, I find it advisable to mounta protective sheath of relatively strong metal, such as steel, around the midportion of the trunnion. I have. not shown such sheaths, but mention the employment thereof for purposes of illustrating the type of changes and modifications which-those skilledin the art may achieve without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Such a sheath would protect the trunnion surface from the wearing action of the powdered material, while it would not materially add to the expense of manufacture.

In general, I do not mean to limit myself to the specific details of construction herein illustrated and described for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention. Therefore, such details, wherethey appear in the appended claims, are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense,

unless the prior art should require adifferent interpretation.

Having thus described m invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- .1.' 'In a transport valve, a valve bodypa trunnion rotatably mounted therein, a radially reciprocable. valve carried by said trunnion; sald valve, including a valve stem having an enlarged end, the outer surface of said end being convex, anda valve disc enclosing said end and presenting a non-conforming surface to said convex surface, and means for supplying lubricating material from the outside of the valve body to the space between saidsurfaces. I r r 2. Ina trans ort valve, a valve body, a trunnion rotata ly mounted therein,a radially reciprocable valvecarried by said trunnion; said valve including a yalve stem having an enlarged end, the outer surface of trunnion rotatably mounted therein, a radii ally reciprocable valve carried by said trunnion'; said valve including a valvestem havingan enlarged end, and a valve disc enclosing said end, said end having an outer surface bearing against. a rear surface of said disc,

at least onefiof said surfaces being convex and the other surface not conforming thereto; and means for supplyin 'lubricatmg material from the exterior 0 the valve body through said trunnion and valve stem to the space between said surfaces 4. In a transport valve, a valve body, a trunnion rotatably mounted therein and having an end projecting from a. wall of said body, said trunnion having a hollow midportion, a radial sleeve carried b said midportion, and a radially reciprocab e valve carried by said trunnion; said valve comprising a valve stem in said sleeve, an enlarged end on said stem and having a convex outer surface, and a valve disc enclosing said enlarged end; and means. for supplying lubricating material through 'said pro ect1ng trunnion end to the interior of said midportion and of said sleeve and to said convex surface.

5. In a transport valve, a valve body, a trunnion rotatably mounted therein, a radial sleeve carried by said trunnion, and a radially reciprocable valve including a valve stem in said sleeve and a valve disc at the end of said stem; said disc being provided with a posed between said sleeve and said skirt. 1

6. Inv a transport valve, a valve body, a

. trunnion rotatably mounted therein,.a radial sleeve carried by said trunnion, and a radially reciprocable valve including a valve stem in said sleeve and a valve disc at the end of said stem, said disc being provided with a,

rearwardly disposed skirt encirclin said sleeve,and means for supplying lubricating material from the exterior of the valve body to the space between the valve stem and said skirt.' I

c 7. Ina transport valve, a valve body, a trunnion rotatably mounted therein and having a hollow midportion and a lubrication bore extending from a trunnion end tosaid midportion, a radial sleeve carried by said midportion, a radially reciprocable valve mountedin said sleeve and including an internally threaded valve stem, mechanism in said midplorti'on for reciprocating said valve, said mec anismincluding a threaded member extending into said sleeve and into en fiagement with said valve stem, said member aving a longitudinal lubrication bore, and a valve disc pivotally carried by the end of the valve stem and including a skirt extendin rearwardly to encircle said sleeve; said va ve stem having lubrication bores communicating between the threaded interior of the stem and the interior of said skirt.

In witness whereof I have si ed this specification this 24 day of Novem er, 1928.

HERBERT TOM MELLING. 

